Don’t politicise security, group tells Zamfara Gov

The Girl-Child Right and Freedom Protection Center has urged the Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, not to politicise the security situation that has further endangered the lives of students currently held in captivity.

The group also expressed concern that Governor Lawal left helpless women behind while he took a personal trip overseas only to return several days later.

This criticism came after videos and pictures of a government official in Zamfara State conversing with the bandits appeared online, raising suspicions that the government is taking advantage of the situation for its own political purposes.

Over the years, kidnappings were reported in Zamfara, which was the center of a multimillion-dollar kidnapping-for-ransom industry.

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The group in a statement issued by its Chairman, Lynda Ajayi, on Wednesday, said that the state government had previously ruled out discussion as a possibility.

While several groups and individuals alleged that the governor exhibited a “double standard” it stated that calling for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency remains essentially the only course of action.

“The nation cannot continue to afford to entrust the lives of innocent students, vulnerable members of society in the care of people who have proven themselves irresponsible, insensitive, incapable, and harboring personal agendas for self-perpetuation.

“Zamfara State is facing a full-blown crisis on a range of fronts, and the state Governor seems unable or unwilling to respond with appropriate concern. The entire state is under direct attack but there is a leadership vacuum right now, and he’s not filling it,” it said.

The Governor is required to take charge in times of crisis. And when people are terrified, upset, or enraged, they turn to him for comfort, but they don’t get much, according to the Group.

It stated that the government must not turn a blind eye to this impunity and willful breach of security, calling on the federal security forces to make an immediate arrest and question the commissioner seen conversing with the criminals about his intentions and the magnitude of the damage he inflicted.

“Governor Lawal, it is clear, has failed to prioritize the safety of the victims and work on securing their release without endangering their lives. Political point-scoring should be avoided in this situation, as the lives of innocent individuals are at stake.

“The situation in Zamfara State remains tense, and the lives of the students held in captivity are still at risk. It is imperative that the federal government takes immediate action to address this crisis and prioritize the safety of the victims.

“The state government’s negotiation with bandits has raised concerns about its motives, and it is crucial that political point-scoring is avoided. The civil society and all stakeholders must hold the Zamfara government accountable for its actions. The abandonment of innocent women for personal gain is unacceptable, and it is crucial that their voices are heard.

It encouraged the government to act quickly to obtain the release of the students taken captive without putting their lives or their futures in peril adding that the safety and well-being of the students held captive must eventually take precedence above all other considerations.